'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
